TV Bands Database Administrators Meeting Implementation Update February 14, 2012 (includes updates...

TV Bands Database Administrators

Meeting

Implementation UpdateFebruary 14, 2012

(includes updates as of April 5, 2012)

FCC Office of Engineering and Technology

AGENDA• Welcome

• WSDBA Update

• FCC Update - General Issues

• Database-to-database synchronization

• Key Bridge Global’s strategy for database-to-database synchronization

• Contour calculation update

• FCC Update - Unlicensed wireless microphone registration system

• FCC Update - Data systems

• Database registration authentication and security

WSDBA Group Update

• Members:– Airity– Comsearch– Google– LS Telcom– Microsoft– Neustar– RadioSoft– Spectrum Bridge– Telcordia Technologies

• Organization Updates:– Adam Newman (Telcordia), White Space DBA Group Secretary– Andy Lee (Google), Computation Working Group

Editor

WSDBA Group Objectives and Goals

• WSDBA Group Objectives:– A database interoperability specification to support

synchronization of multiple WSDBs (“Database API”), including agreeing upon an appropriate

interval for exchange of information, to the extent at least required by the FCC Rules

– Methods to ensure consistent channel availability calculations for the purpose of operating a WSDB in accordance with FCC Rules and practices (the “Calculations Purpose”)

• Goals:– One Common Interface– Publicly Available– Royalty Free

FCC Update - General Issues

Notification of FCC Database Changes

• The WS DBAs rely on FCC-provided databases

• Sufficient notice of changes to the data structure must be provided to allow for system changes and testing

– We suggest at least one week

• We would also like to request test versions of the revised data structures

– At least within the one-week time frame

• If the FCC makes changes without sufficient notice, WS DBAs will continue to use the last file we are able to process until the change can be accommodated

– As noted the guidance provided on 10/4/11 where the database can not be accessed “. . . the white space database systems should continue use the

data from their most recent successful update.”

• The WSDBA Group is developing a process to communicate with the FCC and among the WS DBAs should such a situation occur


FCC Response - Notification of FCC Database Changes

• Media Bureau to notify OET of changes in advance

• OET will provide database administrators:– At least one week notice of actual change implementation– Test versions of revised download files by e-mail (not on the CDBS site)

• Sometimes situations occur that require immediate modification of file structures (less than one week notice)

– OET will notify database administrators by e-mail as soon as information is available; will provide test files if available

• Recommend database administrators also subscribe to AFCCE list-serve - contact Mike Rhodes at [email protected]


WS DBA Testing & Certification Process Update

• Spectrum Bridge and Telcordia have now gone through the DB test process– Spectrum Bridge has been certified to operate– Telcordia is in the post 45-day trial comment period

• Clarifications have been provided as testing has occurred

• We suggest that such clarifications be recorded by the FCC and made available on the FCC White Space Database

Administration website (http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/white-space-database-

administration) and any updates as appropriate to:– OET Plan for Evaluation of TVWS Database Systems for Operation– TVWS Database System Requirements and Tests– TVWS Database System Approval Checklist for Completion of Requirements


FCC Response - Testing & Certification Process Update

• OET’s goal is to provide consistency in the evaluation of the database systems

– To aid in achieving that goal we issued the three evaluation guidance documents and posted them on our website

– The evaluation documents are crafted to be general so as to accommodate differences in database systems

• OET has posted updates of the evaluation guidance documents– The current version on the TVWS webpage were posted in October 2011– With one correction to item “A.” of the “Plan for Evaluation,” these have not

changed from the versions currently posted– Posted versions updated

• Advice– Provide clear information on how to use the channel availability and registration functions– OET will compare channel availability lists among database administrators– Wireless microphone registrations do not change the reserved channels


• Availability of the ULS extraction logic– Work ongoing; to be completed this Spring; will include unlicensed

wireless microphone registration data

• Availability of documentation for the current FCC CDBS extraction logic

– New fields added to CDBS recently (table for STAs; new field to facility table)

– Working on update to extraction logic


• Availability of updated Canada/Mexico land boundary data

– New Canadian and Mexican boundary data not final yet– Continue to use current boundary data until new data becomes

available (not expected soon)

• TV relay and TV translator relay input channel solution

– Some PTP relay stations re-transmit signals received off-the-air– Treat those relays the same as MVPDs for registration of input

receive channels

Database-to-Database Synchronization/Interoperability

DiscussionDemonstration

Database-to-Database Synchronization/Interoperability

• Interoperation based upon specification previously submitted on October 7, 2011: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=70217134 31

• WSDBA Group will be publishing a minor update to the specification as a result of the initial implementation and

clarifications received from initial OET testing of WS DBs.

• Specification is available for use by all WSDBAs

• Demonstration by Spectrum Bridge and Telcordia

Key Bridge Global’s Strategy for Database-to-Database

Synchronization

Contour Calculation Update


To exercise the terrain extraction and contour calculation specification (http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021713432) submitted October 7, 2011, the WSDBA Group chose eight US TV/ LPTV representative contours:

– UHF, VHF high and VHF low bands

– High ERP to lowest possible ERP

– Analog and Digital (NTSC and ATSC)

– Omni and directional antennas (including extreme slopes)

– Located in CONUS, islands and Alaska


• Excellent results from participating DBAs

– Contour accuracy found to be well within the required 10 meters in all cases

– We believe that any implementation with a standard deviation error of less than 10 mm on HAAT and 10

cm on distance is consistent with our suggested calculation methods

• Spreadsheet and PDF files containing results data are available


• Problem– Some TV data records are missing antenna radiation center above mean sea level (RCAMSL)

• Approach being discussed: – If have radiation center above ground level

(RCAGL), calculate radiation center above mean sea level (RCAMSL) using this RCAGL and the terrain database – If missing RCAMSL and RCAGL but do have the (antenna) HAAT, back-calculate RCAMSL from HAAT, consistent with FCC guidance (see email from Alan Stillwell, 1/12/12)

FCC Update - Wireless Microphone Registration System

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Unlicensed Wireless Microphone Venue

Registration SystemRecap of plan:

• FCC will:– Accept registration requests, seek public comment, and grant the requests– Maintain a registration database with information on number of channels that can be used and initial schedules– Provide public access files for download by the database administrators

• Database administrators will:– Download records for registered venues

from public access files– Allow registrants to supply schedule and register channels within FCC approved limits – Provide protection

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Registration System

Status of FCC Registration System:

• In development:- Web design complete- Search results complete- Public access near completion

• Target date for activation is March 2012

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Registration System

Public Access:

• Will be added to ULS Downloads:- New Unlicensed Wireless Microphone

Registrations radio service- Includes Daily Transaction Files and Weekly

Database Downloads for applications- Contains all statuses – Database

Administrators will need to look at Accepted (Q) and Killed (K) - ignore records with pending status codes

- Includes all data elements – Certain data files can be ignored (e.g. Event Information file)

(updated April 5, 2012)

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Registration SystemPublic Access File Structure:

Tables

Contents Required or Optional

RD Registration Detail R

NA Name and Address Information R

CH TV Channel Information R

VN Venue Information R

LL Latitude and Longitude Coordinates R

EV Event Information R

A3 UM Attachments O

C1 UM Comments O

FCC Data Systems Update

• Petitions for reconsideration

• 80-km receive site waivers

• Canadian TV station data

• TV Station Special Temporary Authorizations (STAs)

• Low power TV receive site update facility

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Canadian TV Station Data

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PREVIOUSLY:• Canadian station data to be extracted from

CDBS– Part of OET issued CDBS Extraction Logic

ISSUE:• Canadians indicated that the CDBS records

for Canadian stations in many cases do not reflect actual station operations– CDBS records show international agreements

(i.e., protects allotments)– Actual station operations are often different –

operating facilities (smaller), actual station location, low power stations that are not coordinated

– We need to protect actual station operations

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NEW PLAN:

• Canadians have a database of actual station operations; this database is updated daily

• FCC will extract records for stations to be protected and make these records available for downloading on a daily basis

• Use CDBS until new Canadian database is available

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PROGRESS ON NEW PLAN:

• Project involves the conversion of the dBase 3 files to flat ASCII files

• The new Canadian database download facility will be available from OET TV TVWS webpage and updated each night (including weekends)

• Test run completed last Friday – expect to be operational within a couple of weeks

• Data formats available today

• Will send notification when operational; database administrators will have time to implement

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TV Station Special Temporary Authorizations

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PREVIOUSLY:

• The database administrators were instructed to not protect STA records– Inconsistencies in the database – STAs that allow

stations to go silent or make technical changes but do not contain technical data

– Some “silent” stations do not notify FCC when they return to operation

– Intend that only stations that we know are operating are protected

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NEW:

• Concern that some stations actually operating on STAs are not protected (only a few)

• STAs with engineering data can be assumed to be operating

• Databases should protect operating STAs

• Other STAs still not to be protected

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CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN:

• Media Bureau has added a table if_sta.dat that has data needed to extract STAX records

• FCC CDBS extraction logic is being modified to include STA records to be protected

• Guidance on webpage to be updated

• New CDBS extraction logic will be distributed to the database administrators shortly

• Will notify database administrators in advance of the date when the new extraction logic is available

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LPTV/TV Translator Receive Site Update Facility

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• OET and MB are setting up a webpage facility (webapp) for input of receive channel and site changes for TV translator, low power TV and Class A TV stations

• Update data will be included in the daily CDBS zipped file (table name to be provided later)

• OET will issue a public notice announcing the availability of the receive channel and site update webapp when it is completed

• Not expected to require any separate implementation by database administrators

• The webapp should be implemented soon

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Database Registration Security

and Authentication

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Concerns/vulnerabilities:

• Unauthorized registrations– Party other than the licensee

• Change existing registration at a site

• Establish registrations for additional sites

– Registration by unauthorized party (including foreigners) using legitimate wireless microphone call sign

Unauthorized modifications to registrations– Delete a registration

– Alter channels used, alter schedule, or change location

• Unauthorized registrations can lead to interference and/or reduce white space availability

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• Protection against unauthorized activity for registrations administered by TVWS database systems– Password created when registration established

– URL allowing modification returned to user when a registration action is taken

• Protection against unauthorized registrations by unlicensed wireless microphone venues– FCC application process will evaluate and grant

registration requests

– Modifications and other major requests require FRN and password

– Administrative changes requested by e-mail or letter

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Solutions

• Database system registrations– Access control: Licensed facilities, MVPD receive

channels and temporary BAS links

• Unlicensed wireless microphone registrations– Access control: Separate passwords for FCC and

database system functions

• Others?

TV Bands Database Administrators Meeting Implementation Update February 14, 2012 (includes updates...

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